Machine for producing flexible roofing elements



Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,873

- O. D. MOFARLAND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE ROOFING ELEMENTS Filed Aug.6, 1926 11 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,873

0. D. MCFARLAND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE ROOFING ELEMENTS Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,873

0. D. MCFARLAND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE ROOFING ELEMENTS Filed Aug. 6, 192 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 16, 1928.

- O. D. M FARLAND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE ROOFING ELEMENTS O. D. M FARLAND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE ROOFING ELEMENTS Oct. 16, 1928.

Filed Aug. 6, 1925 ||1 l EE Oct. 16, 1928.

O. D.'M FARLAND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE ROOFING ELEMENTS 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 6, 1926 l /nl I WW 4/ WW 6 MMZ J w M 4 Oct. 16, 1928.

O. D. M F'ARLAND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE ROOFING ELEMENTS Filed Au .e,'1926 11 t -Sheet 7 Ill/l/I/A 1,687,873 0. D. MCFARLAND MACHINE FOR. PRODUCING FLEXIBLE ROOFING ELEMENTS Oct. 16, 1928.

Filed Aug. 6, 1926 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Oct. 1 6, 1928.

O. D. M FARLAND MACHINE on PRODUCING FLEXIBLE ROOFING ELEMENTS .File'd Aug;6, 1926 l1 tsheet 9 0. D. M FARLAND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE ROOFING ELEMENTS Oct. 16, 1928.

Filed Aug.6, 1926 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 16,1928. 1,687,873

, O. D. M FARLAND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE ROOFING ELEMENTS Filed Aug. 6, 1926 11 Sheets-Sheet 11.

Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OWEN D. MGFAIRLAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GUYTON 8a GUMFER MFG. 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION'OF ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE ROOFING ELEMENTS.

Application filed August 6, 1926. Serial No. 127,679.

The present improvements relate more particularly to a shingle-making machine of the revolving type, and in use is designed to act upon a continuous strip of shingle material to produce individual flexible strips or slabs therefrom.

Heretofore in the manufacture of individual flexible shingle strips or slabs, machines of the revolving type were provided with heads correspondingto the design and size of strip desired. These heads were r0- tated at a constant speed in combination with slitter and draw rolls. When it was desired to change the design or size of strip being produced, the machine was stopped, the shaft carrying the heads was removed and another shaft carrying heads for making strips of the desired design and size substituted therefor. In addition, it was frequently necessary to change the gears and to substitute therefor gears of different size. This change in the gearing was necessary at times for both the new head carrying shaft and the slitter and draw roll shafts. This results, as is obvious, in a loss of operating time, thus decreasing the production ofindividual strips per day, in addition to increasing the unit cost per strip produced due to the labor involved in making such substitutions.

The machine of the present invention has been particularly designed to overcome some of the objections to the above practice, permitting continuous operation of the machine, thus resulting in maximum production while at the same time providing for the production of individual strips of different designs and s zes without substantially interrupting the operation of the machine.

Briefly, the machine comprises a plurality of shafts, each shaft carrying heads of different design and size, and each shaft being adapted to singly act on a sheet to produce a strip corresponding to the head design. These shafts are all connected to be driven in timed relation with a main drive. the arrangement being such that each shaft can be 2 revolved independently of the others; or, in

other words, the shaft carrying the heads for making a desired design is placed in operat on to act upon the sheet while the others are idle or not acting on aid sheet. When it is desired to produce strips of a different design and size. the shaft or shafts and theheads which have been operating are thrown out of operative engagement and another shaft or shafts carrying heads of different design and size put into operation.

As a feature of the invention, this can be accomplished without stopping the machine. In changing shafts and heads as above described, the speed of the draw rolls and transverse slitters must of necessity be changed if the strip being produced by the substituted heads is of a different length or width, or some means must be provided for varying the speed of the substituted heads relative to the draw rolls. To permit this change of speed, I provide a changespeed arrangement which is simply constructed and effective in opera tion.

The'invention in its broader aspects is not limited to a machine in which the speed of the head carrying shafts is constant while the speed of the draw rolls and slitters can be changed, but also contemplates a machine in which the speed of each head carrying shaft and slitter can be varied while the speed of the draw rolls may be maintained constant.

Many other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more particularly brought out.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of the machine of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of same. Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view taken on line 4 -4: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail elevational View of one pair of head carrying shafts. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figs. 9 and 10. Fig. 9 is an enlarged eleva tional view of the housing for the change speed gearing. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1010 of Fig- 9. Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the arm on the shifting lever forming part of the change speed gearing arrangement. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary top lan enlarged view of the clutch mechanism or each head carrying shaft. Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1313 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a crosssectional view taken on line 1-1-14 of Fig. 16. Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1515 of Fig. 16. Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 12. Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the preferred gearing arrangement, permitting the speed of the draw rolls and slitters to be varied while maintaining the head carrying shafts at constant speed. Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17, illustrating another gearing arrangement in which the speed of the draw rolls is maintained constant while the speed of the punch-out elements and transverse severing means is varied. Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 17, illustrating the use of a loose gear and a fixed gear on each shaft.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, 1 designates generally the frame, and 2 a pulley wheel receiving power from a pulley belt and motor (not shown). The pulley wheel 2 is carried by the shaft 3, which also has keyed to it a pinion gear 4 adapted to mesh with a large driving gear 5 mounted on the shaft 6. This latter shaft has keyed on its other end a gear 7 adapted to mesh with a train of intermediate gears 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The'shaft 6 (Fig. 4\ functions to carry the transverse cutting knife 13 and is journaled in both sides of the frame in an obvious manner, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3. The shaft 3 on its other end carries a sprocket 17 meshing with an endless sprocket chain 18, which in turn meshes with a sprocket 19 carried by a shaft 20, which latter is journaled in bearings 21. Shaft 20 is provided with spaced pulleys 22 registering with the endless belts 16, the latter registering on their other end with pulley 15 carried by the shaft 14 journaled in bearings suspended from the frame of the machine.

In the illustration shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 17, the intermediate gears 8 and 9 are carried on stub shafts (not shown in detail) which bear in the frame of the machine. The gear 10 is unkeyed and loosely mounted on the shaft 23 which carries the draw rolls 24, thus transmitting the drive to gears 11 and 12 without rotating the shaft 23. Intermediate gear 11 is also mounted on a, stub shaft in a similar manner to gears 8 and 9. Gear 12 is unkeyed and loosely mounted on the shaft 25 which carries the slitters 26 (Fig. 4) On the opposite face of the gear 12, this gear is keyed to a shaft 27 (Fig. 10), which is a separate shaft from the shaft 25 although lying in the same continuous plane. The gear 12 is keyed, as shown at 28, to a hub 29, bolted by means of bolts 30 to the hub 31, keyed by means of key 32 to shaft 27 Thus, rotation of gear 12 is transmitted to shaft 27 This latter shaft extends into the housing 33 which encloses the change speed gearing which will now be described.

The housing itself may be in two 7 arts, 34 and 35, as shown, bolted together tov acilitate removal of the upper housing 34 for repairs and the like. The sha-fting 27 is journaled in the bearings 36 and intermediate its length in the housing carries gears 37, 37 of gradually increasing and decreasing diameter in either of two opposite directions. It is understood that there may be any number of these gears, all of said gears being keyed to the shaft 27.

A gear 38 mounted on a stub shaft 39 carried by a shifting lever 40 is adapted to have meshing engagement selectively and singly with each of the gears 37. The stub shaft 39, of course, is journaled in suitable bearings 41 on said lever 40. The gear 38 is an intermediate gear, being adapted to mesh with a similar gear 42 mounted on shaft 43 journaled in bearing at 44 intermediate the length of the shifting lever 40. The shaft 43 is a shaft substantially similar to shaft 27, being journaled in bearings 45 on both sides of the lower housing 35 and extending across the interior of said housing; On one end the shaft 43 is keyed, as shown at 46, to a hub 47, bolted, as shown at 48, to a similar hub 49 keyed at 50 to the draw roll shaft 23.

Summing up, the drive is transmitted from the pulley wheel 2 through the pinion 4 to driving gear 5, which through shaft 6 transmit-s the drive to gear 7 keyed on the opposite end of shaft 6. From gear 7 the drive is through gears 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, shafts 23 and 25 being loose relative to gears 10 and 12, not receiving any rotation therefrom. The shaft 27 being connected as described to gear 12, is caused to rotate, transmitting rotation to gears 37, which through gears 38 and 42 causes shaft 43 to rotate. This shaft 43 being connected as described to shaft 23, will rotate said shaft.

This rotation of shaft 23 will rotate gear 51 of a pair of meshing gears 51 and 52, said rotation being transmitted through intermediate gear 53 to gear 54 of a pair of gears 54 and 55. Gear 52 is keyed to shaft 56 carrying the upper draw roll 57 while gear is lggyed to shaft 58 carrying the upper slitter arm 60 (Figs. 8 and 11) to project into said slot and guide the lever when it is manipulated. The arm 60 is connected to a bar 61 provided intermediate its length with teeth 62 (Fig. 9) adapted to mesh with a pinion 63 mounted on shaft 64, the function of which will now be described.

Assume that it is desired to shift lever 40 and gear 38 from engagement with one gear 37 to another gear 37 of a different diameter. The handgripping element 60 carrying stem or pin 61 held under spring tension locking engagement with a slot 63 in the upper housing 34 by the spring 62, is released and the entire lever raised upwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, pivoting on shaft 43. The lower slotted end of lever 40 will be guided in its upward movement by the curved arm 60. While the lever is in this raised position, the handle 66 attached to shaft 64 1s rotated to cause the bar 61 through the meshing of rack 62 with pinion 63 to be moved in a desired direction, carrying the shifting lever 40 and gears 38 and 42 along with it untll the gear 38 is above the desired gear 37. The rotation of the handle 66 is then stopped and the lever 40 lowered until the gear 38 meshes with the desired gear 37. The shaft 64 1s journaled in bearings 65 (Fig. 10) carried by the lower housing 35. It has been found that this arrangement for moving the shifting lever 40 and gears 38 and 42 eliminates friction and unnecessary manual exertion. The shaft 43 is provided with an elongated keyway 67. locking gear 42. thereto in any shlfted position.

Describing now the other shafts and gear- I ing, together with their functions, and more particularly relating to Fig. 17, the gear 12. meshes with an intermediate gear 68, which in turn meshes with gear 69 loosely mounted on shaft 70. Gear 69 meshes with interme- 'diate gear 71. driving gear 72 loosely mounted on shaft 73. Gear 72 meshing with an intermediate gear 74, drives gear 7 5 loosely mounted on shaft 76. Gear 75 meshing with intermediate gear 77, drives gear 78 loosely mounted on shaft 79. Gear 78 meshing with intermediate gear 80, drives gear 81 loosely mounted on shaft 82.

For the purpose of illustration, shaft may contain the heads for punching out the tabs formed by the slitting heads carried by shafts 73. 76, 79 and 82. It is to be'noted in the illustration shown in Fig. 17 that there are four shafts, 73, 76, 79 and 82, on which are mounted slitting heads. It is understood that there may be any number of shafts, either more or less, for carrying different sizes of slitting heads. For instance. slitting heads for making a x 4" slit produced in a 10-inch slab, may be mounted on shaft 73; heads for making a x 5" slit in a 12-inch slab, may be mounted on shaft 76; headsfor making a fi X '4" slit in a 12 -inch slab, may be mounted on shaft 79; and heads for making a diagonal slit in a 14-inch slab, may be mounted on the shaft 82.

It is understood, of course, that the above sizes are merely illustrative, and that any other sizes of heads may be mounted on said shafts.

Complementary shafts 70, 73. 76, 79 and 82' are mounted directly above the shafts 70. 73, 76, 79 and 82, respectively, for the purpose of receiving corresponding top heads. Each set of complementary shafts is driven in timed relation by means of a pair of gears 83, 83. The opposite ends of shafts 56, 58, 7 O, 7 76, 79 and 82 are journaled in suitable bearings in the frame.

Describing now more in detail the clutch throwing desired shafts into and out of operation, and referring more partlcularly to Figs. 12 to 16, I will describe the engagement and disengagement of shaft 70, which will illustrate the engagement and disengagement of similar shafts 7 3, 7 6, 79 and 82: The gear 69 is loose on shaft 70. Bolted to the gear 69 by means of bolts 85 is the stationary half of a clutch 84. The stationary half 84 of the clutch is adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement with the sliding half 86 of the clutch. which latter is keyed to the shaft 70, sliding in the key-way 87. The sliding half 86 of the clutch carries a hand wheel 88 for making and breaking engagement with the stationary half 84. The particular construction of this wheel 88 and means for making and breaking engagement will now be described.

At a predetermined point on the insideperiphery of the wheel 88 it is provided with a slot 89 in which is adapted to be moved a pin 90 extending through another pin or stem 91 held under spring tension by means of the coiled'spring 92 mounted in housing 93 in the body of the hand wheel 88. Due to this spring tension, the base of the stem 91 normally has engagement with one of two circumferential grooves 94 and 95 in the shaft 70. By the foregoing arrangement, it is a simple matter to slide the half 86 of the clutch into and out 6f engagement with the stationary half 84. Assume for illustration that the slidinghalf 86 of the clutch is in engagement with the stationary half 84, as shown in Figs. 12, 15 and 16, and thatit is desired to disengage the clutch to stop the rotation of the shaft. The pin 90 is raised upwardly by the grasp of the fingers around the hand wheel 88 against the tension of the spring 92, thus raising the stem 91 from engagement with groove 95. The half '86 of the clutch is then moved backward until the stem 91 engages the groove 94 in the shaft, at which time the two parts of the clutch, 84 and 86, will be out of engagement. Excess movement of the sliding half 86 of the clutch is prevented by means of the stop collar 96 permanently fixed on the outer end of the shaft 70.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that movement imparted'to the gear 70 will cause same to rotate, carrying with it the stationary half 84 of the clutch. When the sliding half 86 is in engagement with the half 84, the shaft 70, being keyed to the sliding half 86, will be rotated; while if the sliding half 86 is not in engagement with the stationary half 84, the shaft 70 will not be rotated.

It is understood that although I have described particularly shaft 70 and gear 69, the shafts 73, 76, 79 and 82, with their respective gears 72, 75, 78 and 81, are likewise engaged and disengaged A bushing 97 is preferably interposed between each shaft and its correarrangement for selectively and singly sponding gear and clutch half. A reference to Fig. 13 will illustrate the key 98 locking the half 86 of the clutch with theshaft 70 in the key-way 87.

At times it may be necessary to adjust the position of a shaft relative to its gear; that is, it may be desirable to adjust a fraction of a tooth, or even a whole tooth. To provide for this, I have mounted on the'stationary half 84 of the clutch two projections 99, provided with internal slots 100. Against both sides of one projection 99 I provide opposite set screws 101 threading through the studs 102, which latter are mounted on the face of the gear. The bolts 85 are adapted to register with the slots 100, the arrangement being such that when it is desired to move the shaft a fraction of a tooth, or even a whole tooth, the bolts and set screws 101 are loosened and the projections 99 moved in either desired direction, whichsimultaneously moves the shaft the desired distance. It is, of course, understood that during this operation the two halves of the clutch are in engagement.

When a set of opposed slitters is not operating on a sheet, some means must be provided to raise the upperset of slitters away from contact with the sheet in order that these slitters will not act thereon; To accomplish this, the lower shaft (Figs. 5, 6 and 7), which has been designated 70 for the purpose of illustration and explanation, is provided on both ends with bushings or bearings 97 and 97 Projecting downwardly from each bearing and having connection therewith is an anchor bolt 103, anthored in the main frame 1 by means of the adjusting nut 104. The bolts 103 may be connected to the bearings 97 and 97' by means of the set screws 105. The arrangement is such that the shaft 70 carrying spaced sets of slitting heads 106 is adjustable by manipulation of the adjusting nut 104. Either side of the shaft also maybe adjusted relative to the other side. After the proper adjustment has been secured, the shaft is preferably fixed in that i position; that is, it is fixed and is not adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly as is the shaft 7 0 directly opposite. The shaft 7 0' also has slitting elements 106' and is also provided with bearings 97. B'olts 105, screw-threaded at 106" for a great part of their length, project upwardly from the bearings 97' having connection with the latter through the set screws 107. The screwthreaded portion 106' of each bolt is adapted to have screw-threaded engagement with a worm gear 108. This worm gear is provided with hubs 109 projecting from each face. These hubs bear in the spaced supporting bearings 110. To rotate the worm gear 108 there is provided a shaft 111, one end of which carries a handle 112. Intermediate its length, the shaft 111 is provided with worms 113 adapted to have meshing engagement with the worm gears 108.

The shaft 70, with its gear, slitters and bearings, is adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly relative to the shaft 70 and relative to the sheet designated diagrammatically at 114. To accomplish this raising and lowering, the hand wheel 112 is rotated in the desired direction, thus rotating shaft 111, worms 113, worm gears 108 and screwthreaded portion 106 of bolts 105. The arrangement is such that the bolts move upwardly and downwardly while the worm gear 108 remains in the same horizontal plane, due to the fact that each worm gear is held between the spaced bearing plates 110.

Each bolt 105-is preferably provided with an internal oil duct-115 communicating with the space between the inside of the bearlng 97 and the outside of the shaft. The shaft may be provided vith spaced studs 116 to insure uniform spacing between the shaft and bearing and proper oiling.

Sometimes it may be desirable to permit adjustment between opposite ends of a shaft by raising or lowering one end while the other remains stationary. To provide for this, the shaft 111 is divided and is provided on opposite sides adjacent the line of division with hubs 117 and 118, each of which is keyed to its respective portion of the divided shaft. The inner face of the hub 117 is provided with spaced notches 118'. A pin 119 held under spring tension by means of spring 120 is carried by the hub 118,the arrangement being such that the pin may be pulled out- I wardly from engagement with one notch and moved in either direction until it is forced into another notch. This movement in either direction will be transmitted to that portion of the shaft 111 which is keyed to the hub 1 .118, in turn being-transmitted through the worm and ear to the bolt 105, thus raising or lowering the end of the shaft shown at the left hand side of Fig. 5. It is understood that this adjustment is only an emergency adjust- 3 rangement in which the speed of the paper is varied by increasing or decreasing the speed of the draw rolls and slitters, said speed being predetermined for the design and shape of shingle being produced and the set of slitting knives working thereon.

In Fig. 18 I have illustrated diagrammatically a. modified form, of gearing arrange ment in which the paper speed is maintained constant due to maintaining the draw rolls at constant speed, while the transverse fly knife and tab knockout elements are varied.

I will now describe briefly the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 18. 125 designates a pulley mounted on shaft 126 having an intermediate pinion gear 127 meshing with an enlarged driving gear 128 mounted on shaft 129 carrying the draw rolls. This shaft 129 carries on its other end gear 130 adapted to mesh with a pinion gear 131 carried by the upper shaft 132 on which the upper draw rolls are mounted. Gear 130 transmits the drive through intermediate gears 133, 133 to sets of gears 134 and 134 carried, respectively, by shafts 135 and 135. These sets of shafts 135 and 135 carry the different sizes of slitting knives for making the different designs and sizes of shingle elements as heretofore described. Each of the gears 134 is of a different size, the ratio of which has been predetermined to regulate the speed of the shaft carrying the slitting knives.

Now describing the means for varying the speed of the fly knife and tab knockout elements The shaft 126 has an extension beyond the pinion gear 127, having keyed on its opposite end a gear 136. This gear 136 meshes with an intermediate gear 137 carried by the shifting lever 138 and adapted to have meshing engagement, selectively and singly, with a gear 139. There are a number of gears 139 of decreasing diameter keyed on the end of the shaft 140. This latter shaft carries on its other end a pinion gear 141 meshing with a large driving gear 142 keyed on shaft 143, on which shaft is mounted the transverse fly knife for transversely severing the sheet into individual strips. Not only must the speed of the fly knife be regulated, but also the speed of the shaft carrying the elements for punching out the tabs. To provide for this, a gear 144 is keyed on shaft 143,1neshing with an intermediate gear 145, which in turn meshes with a gear 146 keyed on the end of shaft 147. Shaft 147 is the shaft on which these punch-out elements are carried.

From this brief description of Fig. 18, the

operation therein shown will be apparent.

In Fig. 19, I have diagrammatically shown another arrangement of gearing for accomplishing the desired result in which each lower shaft upon which the design-forming means are mounted carries two gears mounted on the same end'of the shaft immediately adjacent each other and separated by a short collar fixed to the shaft. A movable pin is manipulated to connect the collar with the two gears when it is desired to operate them as a unit.

It is thought a brief description of Fig. 19 will suflice.

The numeral 148 designates the shaft receiving the drive from the pulley and carrying a pinion gear 149 meshing with a large driving gear 150 keyed on the end of shaft 151, which latter has keyed on its opposite end a gear 152 meshing with two intermediate gears 153 and 154, with the inside gear 155 of a pair of gears 155 and l56 mounted'on shaft 157. Gear 155 is loose on the shaft, merely acting as an intermediate idler gear, and is not attached to gear 156 by a collar as are the other gears hereinafter described. Gear 156 is keyed to shaft 157. Shaft 151 carries the fly knife for transversely severing the sheet, and shaft 157 carries the draw rolls. In the illustration shown in Fig. 19, the speed of the fly knife is maintained constant, while the paper speed is varied. Gear 155 transmits the drive through intermediate gear 158 of a pair of gears 158 and 159, which in turn transmits the drive to gear 160 of a pair of gears 160 and 161. Gear 160 is loosely mounted on shaft 157 carrying the design-forming means, but has a collar attached'to its surface, which collar also is connected to the outside gear 161, which latter is keyed to shaft 157. The arrangement of the gearing be yond this point is exactly the same, all inside gears being loosely mounted on their respective shafts, while the outside gears are keyed to said shafts and also connected by means of a collar to the inside gears. The diameter of each outside gear is varied according to a predetermined ratio, to cause the designmaking knives carried b each shaft to revolve at the desired spee The gear 156 receives its drive through the train of driving and intermediate gears on the outside of each shaft, it being obvious that the desired shaft is thrown into operation by sliding the pin connecting the collar and two gears of a set into engagement. The other sets of gears merely idle during that time.

The same arrangement of mechanism as described for Fig. 17 applies .to Figs. 18 and 19. s

It will be apparent from the foregoin description that I have perfected a mac ine capable of being continuously operated over long periods of time to produce individual shingle elements of difierent designs without stopping at any time the operation of the machine for the purpose of substituting heads of different design and size. The machine is effective-and certain in operation, producing a maximum quantity of shingles per day at a minimum cost, as heretofore described. Various changes may be made in the arrangement of the mechanisms without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, the shaft 82 at the right hand side of the machine is shown as carrying a draw roll. It is understood, of course, that this shaft may carry either a draw roll or design-forming knives of predetermined design and size.

I have also shown in Fig. 4 an auxiliary sprocket 200, which functions to receive the drive from shaft 56 for driving another set of draw rolls, which may or may not be a part of the present machine, merely utilizing driving power. v

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for producing individual roofing strips from a continuous sheet of flexible roofing material comprising in combination a support, a plurality of sets of design-forming means of different design and size mounted for rotatable movement on said support, means for rotating said design-forming means, transverse severing means also mounted for rotatable movement on said support, means for rotating said transverse severing means in timed relation with said design forming means, means for continuously feeding a sheet of material to said sets of design-forming means, means for disengaging.

a set of design-forming means of one design and substituting a set of a different design without substantially interrupting the operation of the mwhine and means for varying the relative speed of the sheet-feeding and transverse severing means to compensate for the change in desi n and size.

2. Apparatus for producing individual roofing strips from a continuous sheet of flexible roofing material comprising in combination means for feeding a sheet of material, transverse severing means, and sets of design-forming means, each set differing in design and comprising upper and lower shafts carrying said design-forming means, means individual to each set for throwing each set into and out of operation, means for varying the relative speed of the strip-feeding and transverse severing means whereby any set of design-forming means operating on the continuously advancing strip can be disengaged and another set substituted therefor Without substantially interrupting the operation of the machine.

3. Apparatus for producing individual roofing strips from a continuous sheet of flexible roofing material comprising in combination means for feeding said continuous sheet of flexible roofing material, transverse severing means comprising a knife carried by a shaft mounted for rotation, sets of designforming means, each set difliering in design and comprising upper and lower shafts carry ing said design-forming means, means individual to each set for throwing said set'into and out of operation, means for rotating the transverse severing means and sets of design forming means in timed relation, means for varying the relative speed of rotation of the sheet-feeding and transverse severing means comprising gears of different diameters receiving rotation from the source of power which imparts rotation to said sets of designforming means.

4. Apparatus for producing individual roofing strips from a continuous sheet of flexible ,roofing material comprising in combination means for feeding said sheet of material, transverse severing means and sets of designforming means, each set differing. in design and comprising upper and lower shafts carrying said design-forming means, means for-rotating the transverse severing means and sets of design forming means in timed relation, means individual to each set for throwing said set into and out of operation, means for varying the relative speed of the sheet-feeding and transverse severing means comprising gears of different diameters receiving rotation from the source of power which imparts rotation to said sets of design-forming means, said gears directly transmitting a .change in speed, first to the strip-feeding means, and subsequently to the transverse severing means.

5. Apparatus for producing individual roofing strips from a continuous sheet of flexible roofing material, comprising in combination a support, a plurality of sets of designforming means of different design and size mounted for rotatable movement on said support, means for rotating said design-forming means, transverse severing means also mounted on said support, means for continuously feeding said sheet material to said sets of design-forming means, and means for disengaging a set of design-forming means of one design 'and substituting a set of a different design without substantially interrupting the operation of the machine comprising a gear carried by each set of design-forming means and mounted for independent movement relative thereto, a clutch movable with and cooperatively associated with said design-forming means, and means individual to each clutch for engaging and disengaging the clutch relative to the gear to cause the designforming means to be readily thrown into and out of operation.

6. Apparatus for producing individual roofing strips from a continuous sheet of flexible roofing material, comprising in combination a support, a plurality of sets of design forming means of different design, and a transverse severing means carried by a shaft mounted for rotation on said support, means for rotating said sets of design forming means, and transverse severing means in timed relation, means for feeding said continuous sheet of flexible roofing material to said sets of design forming means, means for disengaging a set of design formin means of a certain design from action on sai sheet, and

substituting another set of. a different design to act on said sheet without substantially interrupting the feed of the continuous sheet to the machine, and independently operable means for varying the speed of rotation of said transverse severing means.

GWEN D. MOFARLAND. 

